Device for automatically regulating the quality of gas.



No. 849,053. PATENTED APR. 2, 1901.

' e. F. G'ONNER.

. DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY REGULATING THE QUALITY 01? GAS.

' APPLICATION fILED SEPT22.1902.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE F. OONNER, OF PORT HURON, MICHIGAN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ldatentea April 2, 1907.

Application filed September 22, 1902. Serial No. 124,33 9.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. OoNNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Port Huron, in the county of St. Clair and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Devices for Automatically Regulating the Quality of Gas, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to an automaticregulating device for maintaining uniform proportionof components in a current of carbureted air or an admixture of air and hydrocarbon gases which is being conducted from a storage-tank to its place of consumption.

If a storage-tank or gasometer be supplied from a generator of the usual type with an admixture of air and hydrocarbon gas or with carbureted air and the mixture be drawn thereform in the usual manner, it is found that the quality varies, inasmuch as the gases do not have a chance to become thoroughly diffused in the gasometer, the heavier vapors settling toward the bottom of the tank. This irregularity in quality is a source of trouble and annoyance at the point of consumption.

The object of this invention is to automatically regulate the quality of the gas which passes out from the gasometer, so that as the result the gas will be uniform in character and produce a constant heating and lighting effect at the point of consumption regardless of the amount of gas in the gasometer or conditions in the generator.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The figure is a view in vertical section of a device which embodies the main features of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, A. represents a closed receptacle, preferably cylindrical in shape. A supply-pipe B, which leads from the gasometer or pressure-tank, is connected to the receptacle, hereinafter designated as the regulating-chamber, preferably to the lower portion or bottom of the chamber. An eduction-pipe D is likewise connected to the regulating-chamber A, preferably at a point remote from the inlet of the supply-pipe B. Said eduction-pipe is preferably vertical and .is provided near its top with a horizontal discharge D As a matter of convenience said pipe D is secured to the regulating-chamber at a point midway of its vertical side walls.

Air is sup lied to the mixing-chamber from a suitab e pressure-tank through a pipe and valve O, which is herein shown as inserted in the supply-pipe B at its connection with the regulating-chamber A. Said airvalve' is provided with a vertical moving closure 0, which recedes from its seat and admits air therethrough when .it is depressed. A pipe D is tapped into the chamber at a point remote from both the supply and induction pipes, preferably at the top of the receptacle. Said pipe D is connected to the eduction-pipe D by a branch D which bends into the eduction-pipe D, where it turns into a discharge D A movable partition or diaphragm Gis provided in the upper portion of the chamber A, so as to divide it into two separate compartments, into one of which the supply and educ tion pipes run and with the other of which the pipe B connects. Said partition or diaphragm G preferably comprises a central inflexible disk E, which is secured to the walls of the chamber by the margins of a flexible membrane, the outer edges of which may be conveniently secured by clamping between the flange margins of the side wall and the rim of the top plate of the chamber A, this connection affording ease of movement to the diaphragm. Said disk E is balanced on the pivoted point of the upturned end fof a horizontal lever F. The latter is fulcrumed on any suitable support. As herein shown, this comprises a pivot end or knife-edge of the vertical standard f, which is secured to the base of the chamber. The disk and diaphragm are counterbalanced by an adjustable weight on the lever.

The valve-closure c is operatively connected by the stem 0 to the lever F, to which the upper end is pivoted. It follows from this arrangement that the depression of the diaphragm raises the valve-closure and closes the air-valve, while the reverse motion opens the air-valve. The counterbalance-weight is further assisted in maintaining the required balance by a springarm H, on whose inner end the weighted end of the lever bears. The other end of the spring-arm is secured to a horizontal rock-shaft h, journaled in a suitable bearing h in the wall and manually operated by a crank-handle 7L2, the adjustment of the parts being further facilitated by the introduction of the view-hole I. The device is introduced in the system it is and the burners.

the pipe D. By the manipulation of the spring-arm H the lever F is adjusted in conjunction with the diaphragm G so that the valve C is opened a suflicient distance to admit enough air to overcome the slight excess of hydrocarbon admitted from the gasometer.

Itf'oll'o'ws that any change in the density of the vapor above the diaphragm through the system will at once change the pressure upon the diaphragm, and so cause it to rise or fall, thereby opening or closing the valve and allowing more or less air to enter, as the case may require.

In practice it is found desirable to have the diaphragm of considerably greater diameter than the service-pipes, so as to afford sufli-- cient power under slight movement to act1iate the valve. In effect, the regulating device is a by-pass inserted in the system beyond the carbureter, with a movable diaphragm closing it or dividing it into two portions, each of which are so connected with the system that any variation in the density of the vap or the system at either end. of the lay-pass or corresponding points of the system moves the diaphragm.

, Obviously many details in the form and arrangement of parts may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not limit myself to any particular form or arrangement of parts.

I claim as my invention 1. In a gas regulating and supply system, an air-valve for admitting air to the pipes beyond the carbureter, a by-pass opening into the system both near the air-valve and at a point remote from the air-valve, having a cross-sectional area relatively larger than the area of the pipe into which it opens, and said pipe extending to a comparatively high altitude above the by-pass, amovable diaphragm dividing the bypass into two compartments and means operatively connecting the airvalve and said diaphragm.

2. A regulator for a gas generating and distributing system, comprising a mixingchamber, a fluid-controlled movable dia phragm, dividing said chamber into two compartments, and a supply-pipe, eductionpipe and air-valve opening into one of said compartments, the other compartment being connected with said eduction-pipe, said diaphragm being adapted to operate said valve, said mixing-chamber having a cross-sectional area of relatively large area compared with the said supply and eduction pipes and said eduction-pipes extending to a comparatively high altitude above the mixingchamber.

reaoss A regulator for a gas generating and distributing system, comprising a mixingchamber, a movable diaphragm dividing said chamber into an upper and a lower comparteduction-pipes extending to a comparatively high altitude above the mixingchamber.

4. A regulator for a gas generating and distributing system, comprising a mixingchamber, divided by a movable diaphragm into an upper and alower compartment, a supply-pipe, and an eduction-pipe opening into the lower of said compartments, said eduction-pipe being also connected by a branch pipe to the upper compartment, and an air-valve opening into the lower compartments operated by the diaphragm the latter being controlled by the fluid in the system, said mixing-chamber having across-sectional area of relatively large area compared with the said supply and eduction pipes and said eduction-pipes extending to a comparatively high altitude above the mixing-chamber.

5. A regulator for a gas generating and distributing system, comprising a mixingchamber, a movable diaphragm dividing said chamber into two compartments, a supplypipe and an eduction-pipe opening into the lower compartment, theupper of said compartments being connected by a conductor to the dischargeipe and means operated by the diaphragm adapted to admit air into the said supply-pipe, said mixing-chamber having a cross-sectional area of relatively large area compared with the said supply and eduction pipes and said eduction-pipes extending to a comparatively high altitude above the mixing-chamber.

6. A regulator for a gas generating and distributing system, comprising a mixingchamber divided into two compartments by a movable diaphragm, a gas-supply pipe and an eduction-pipe opening into one of the compartments, a pipe from the other c'ompartment opening into said eduction-pipe between its ends, and means operatively connected to said diaphragm adapted to admit air into said supply-pipe, said mixingchamber having a cross-sectional area of relatively large area compared with the said supply and eduction pipes and said eductionpipes extending to a comparatively high altitude above the mixing-chamber.

7. A regulator for a gas generating and distributing system, comprising a mixingchamber, a movable diaphragm dividing said chamber into an upper and a lower compartment, a gas-supply pipe and an eductionpipe opening into the lower compartment, a pipe discharging from the upper compartment into said eduction-pipe between its ends, and an air-valve opening into said chamber connected to said diaphragm, said mixing-chamber having a cross-sectional area of relatively large area compared with the said supply and eduction pipes andsaid eduction-pipes extending to a comparatively high altitude above the mixing-chamber.

8. A regulator for a gas generating and distributing system comprising a mixingchamber, a movable diaphragm in said chamber, a gas-supply pipe discharging into said chamber below said diaphragm, an eductionpipe leading from said chamber below said diaphragm, a pipe opening into the chamber above the diaphragm, and into the eductionpipe between its ends, an air-valve opening into said chamber below the diaphragm operating said diaphragm, and means to adjust ably limit the movements of the diaphragm, said mixing-chamber having a cross-sectional area of relatively large area compared with the said supply and eduction pipes and said eduction-pipes extending to a comparatively high altitude above the mixingchamber.

9. A regulator for a gas generating and distributing system, comprising a mixingchamber, a gas-supply pipe discharging into said chamber, an eduction-pipe leading from said chamber, a movable diaphragm above said inlet and eduction-pipe, adapted to divide said chamber into two compartments, an air-valve opening into said chamber, a pipe opening into said chamber on the side of the diaphragm remote from the eductionpipe and into said eduction-pipe between its phragm and adjustably limiting its motion,

and means operatively connecting said valve to said diaphragm, said mixing-chamber having a cross-sectional area of relatively large area compared with the said supply and eduction pipes and said eduction-pipes extending to a comparatively high altitude above the mixing-chamber.

10. A regulator for a gas generating and distributing system, comprising a mixingchamber, a movable diaphragm dividing said chamber into two compartments, a gasinlet pipe an eduction-pipe and an air-valve opening into one of said compartments, a pipe connecting the other compartment with said eduction-pipe between the ends thereof, means for adjustably counterpoising and limiting the movement of said diaphragm, and means operatively connecting said valve to said diaphragm adapted to operate said valve when said diaphragm is moved, said mixing-chamber having a cross-sectional area of relatively large area compared with the said supply and eduction pipes and said eduction-pipes extending to a comparatively high altitude above the mixing-chamber.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE F. CONNER. i/Vitnesses:

D. E. PURDY, H. B. HOYT. 

